Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola grilled over decision to persist with Claudio Bravo

PEP GUARDIOLA went on the defensive today as he was grilled about goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

He admits the Chile international has to accept criticism of his performances for Manchester City this season.

And he also says he has to accept the scrutiny of his controversial decision to sign Bravo from Barcelona and jettison England No 1 Joe Hart last summer.

Bravo was brought in for his ability with his feet in order to help City build moves from the back but his poor shot-stopping has been highlighted.

Of the the last 22 shots on target from City’s opponents going back to the beginning of December, they have conceded 14 goals, including four at Everton last Saturday.

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Pep Guardiola took some of the blame for Manchester City's woes

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Pep Guardiola admitted he expected more from himself and Claudio Bravo

Asked about the criticism, he said: “We have to accept it. It is part of the manager’s job and the player’s job so we have to accept it.”

Guardiola insists Bravo is not totally to blame for City woes. He says they have missed chances to kill off opponents while the defenders in front of the keeper need to their jobs better.

"The position is not [just] about the goalkeeper," he added. "It would be easy for me, if it were about that. What is it about? Play better and score the chances we had and concede fewer when the opponents arrive.

“How do we get the best from him? We need to do well in the [penalty] boxes and be stronger. And we will be stronger in front and the back.

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Asked if he expected more from Bravo he replied: “From myself too.”

Guardiola confirmed that new signing Gabriel Jesus is in line for his debut against Tottenham tomorrow but refused to confirm whether he will start or come on form the bench. And he insisted the 19-year-old needs time to adjust to the Premier League and cannot be expected to solve all City’s problems.

“He is fit and he is ready to be involved in the squad,” said Guardiola. “He is a young player, 19, so we cannot think he will solve our problems.

“He will help us. He has quality. He will have all the time to get involved. It would have been easier if he could have arrived at the beginning of the season. Now is the middle of the season when there are not too many training sessions. He has quality.

“All the strikers try to help us and Gabriel is going to help us. But he is young and we have to be patient because he is going to create his career here.”

Guardiola is a huge admirer of Mauricio Pochettino’s team who were the first side to defeat City this season back in October.

“They’ve been brilliant. As a fan of football, I love to see them,” he said. “His positional game is quite similar to Chelsea but they have some different movements. It is his third season there and they are playing how we wants.

"There is good quality between the lines with [Christian] Eriksen and Dele Alli. They have physical full backs with [Danny] Rose and [Kyle] Walker. It is a really good, attractive team.”